Environmental Protection

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Conservation Zoning in Mitchell Creek a fragile hope due to NT Planning Minister’s discretionary power.

Posted by Sue ⋅ 25/05/2014 ⋅ Leave a comment

UPDATE May 2014

A brief reflection of our 2009 goals reveals that though we have achieved the greater part of our aims including establishing our Friends Group as a stakeholder in Catchment management that we still have a great deal of work to do.

Construction is ongoing in the suburbs of Johnston and Zuccoli and the hope of success through protective zoning has turned out to be fragile. This is due to Ministerial discretion being sufficient to remove or reinstate Conservation Zoning at any time depending on the whim/aims of Government. Its evident that the whole of Mitchell Creek Catchment is way past being considered for Reserve status due to urban development. To date neither NT Government nor City of Palmerston Council have an interest or intent to balance urban development within this intact natural Catchment environment. This short sighted view is causing loss of amenity for residents and visitors and a reduction in the mitigating effects of retained woodland and riparian vegetation (shade eg) in terms of temperature control and heavy water flows (flooding and erosion control).

See presentation below for a slide show of our Group’s aims and activities.

Presentation Mitchell Creek as urban catchment – the development of a community engagement campaign- 2013

I will provide a table of aims met and those still requiring more effort in a new post in the near future.

Thanks to the very many people who have assisted this long running campaign – you have kept us relevant in the long fight for protection of the Catchment’s natural values and open space for Palmerston people.